Minneapolis School Shooter's Weapon Bore 'Nuke India' Message
A shooter who killed two children and injured 17 people at a Minneapolis Catholic school reportedly had "Nuke India" written on one of his firearms. The shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, also had other extremist messages on the weapons, including "Kill Donald Trump" and "Israel Must Fall." The chilling anti-India slogan has drawn attention to the shooter's motivations, which the FBI is investigating as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime.
Unpacked:
Robin Westman was 23 years old, the child of divorced parents, and attended Annunciation Catholic School, where the shooting took place. Westman later attended a Minnesota charter school briefly and identified as a transgender woman, legally changing her name from Robert to Robin in 2019. Westman’s mother previously worked at the church as a parish secretary.
The FBI is investigating the attack as a hate crime and potential domestic terrorism due to the shooter’s extremist messages targeting multiple groups, including anti-India, anti-Trump, and anti-Israel slogans, as well as the targeting of a Catholic school—a religious institution—suggesting ideological motives behind the violence.
Authorities found several extremist slogans on Westman's weapons, including “Nuke India,” “Kill Donald Trump,” and “Israel Must Fall.” These messages suggest a mix of anti-national, anti-political, and anti-religious sentiments, but investigators are still working to determine if Westman was affiliated with any particular extremist groups or ideologies.
Yes, reports indicate that Robin Westman posted a manifesto on YouTube prior to the shooting. Investigators are reviewing these materials to understand her motivations, any warning signs, and whether others may have been aware of her intentions before the attack.